SkySat is a constellation of 21 high-resolution Earth imaging satellites owned and operated by the commercial company Planet Labs. SkySat-1 was launched in 2013 and a launch programme has followed.
The first two SkySat satellites (SkySat-1 and SkySat-2) are A and B Generations, the other 19 satellites are modernised C Generation satellites.
Six of the C-Generation SkySat satellites (from SkySat-16 to SkySat-21) were launched into non-sun-synchronous orbits to increase the image cadence between 52 degrees northern and southern latitude up to 6-7 times per day on worldwide average, with a maximum of 12.
Launch dates:
- SkySat-1: 21 Nov 2013
- SkySat-2: 8 Jul 2014
- SkySat-3: 22 Sep 2016
- SkySat-4 to 7: 16 Sep 2016
- SkySat-8 to 13: 31 Oct 2017
- SkySat-14-15: 3 Dec 2018
- SkySat 16-18: 13 June 2020
- SkySat 19-21: 18 Aug 2020
Satellite characteristics
Launch Date - End 1384988400 -
Status Operational
Orbit type SkySat 1-15: Sun-synchronous; <br />SkySat 16-21: inclined, non sun-synchronous
Altitude 400 - 600
Equatorial crossing time SkySat-1, 3-7, 14-15: ~10:30 ; <br />SkySat-2, 8-13: ~13:00; <br />SkySat-16-21: variable